McDonald's plans to serve up another 2,500 new jobs this year after adding more than 20,000 people to its workforce during the past five years.

The company's chief executive for northern Europe, Jill McDonald, said the company was expanding despite challenging economic conditions: "Our continued focus on serving quality, affordable food and giving our customers a great experience is enabling us to keep investing in our business and creating jobs."

McDonald's has faced criticisms that it offers low-tech, low-pay "McJobs" that add little to the country's skills base. But it gained recognition in government circles as a training partner after it received the go-ahead to offer its own NVQ qualifications overseen by the schools regulator Ofsted. McDonald herself has also championed the recruitment of unqualified young people who, she says, often fail at school through no fault of their own.

Business secretary Vince Cable said: "I am pleased to see how McDonald's is providing training and apprenticeships in a range of skills." He added that the chain was "to be applauded for helping adult employees get qualifications in maths and English."